Corporate and entertainment management interactive system using a computer network

ABSTRACT

A system, method, and apparatus is provided for computerized management of a method of corporate, business or sports management by a remote party comprising relating a current database of an entity. For instance, in sports management substantially real time management is possible. Data of a player together with a historical database related to that player and decisions can be transmitted. This is communicated between a central database processing resource and at least one remote party. A remote party is permitted to access the database and access designated data from the database, and input and output data. Voting and other management of the player, team, or business is possible in substantially real time or near real time by the remote party. A remote user can vote on financial compensation for a player, a coach or a team and/or for a bonus for a player, team or game. Similarly hiring and firing decisions can be made. Shareholders, fans or customers of an entertainment business such as sports can be more interactively involved in all aspects of management and ownership duties and thus be more thoroughly entertained.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/694,276, filed Oct. 24, 2000, the entire disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

This application includes material which is subject to copyrightprotection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in thePatent and Trademark Office files or records, but otherwise reserves allcopyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a management system. In particular, theinvention is concerned with a system, apparatus and method for managingbusinesses, participants, directors and actions of a remote entity usinga computer network. More particularly, the invention is directed toimproving accountability in managing and operating enterprises.

Currently in the entertainment business of professional sports there aresignificant problems: players salaries in the big leagues haveskyrocketed to the point where many teams have a hard time breaking eveneach year; cities that are considered small markets have a difficulttime competing financially for good enough players to have a reasonablechance of making the playoffs in the big leagues; owners have noeffective way to deter their players from behaving unprofessionally oreven breaking the law routinely; and teams do not have sufficientloyalty to their city where they currently reside to cause them to planon staying.

On Sep. 28, 1999, Canada's four Major League hockey teams announced thatif they did not receive governmental assistance in one way or another,like many teams in the United States have with publicly financed forsuch things as stadiums, that they would have to sell their teams to theUnited States.

Star players contracts are written heavily in the players' favor and thestars are treated with immunity from the normal societal rules and thelaw that some players no longer find it important to follow the coachesdirections or to act minimally professional.

Many star players have little fear of hurting their livelihood if theypublicly break the law by using drugs, abetting prostitution, and evenphysically striking or choking their head coach as occurred in theNational Basketball Association. The young fans, children, rarely watchtheir favorite athletes behaving as decent role models, contributors tosociety, and upstanding law abiding citizens. Many of the teams andleagues do not enforce their own rules on morals clauses—players faildrug tests repeatedly with little significant deterrence. Star playersoften do not show up to work for practice as required by their highpaying contract. Fans are often disgruntled about the lack ofprofessionalism.

Much of this is caused by the players being unaccountable to the fans.In the past there has been no way for the fan to reward or punish theplayer, team or league directly other than to not watch a game.Currently, if a major league team with no leverage over its players doesnot punish its players for committing crimes or for not showing up towork on time then individual fans have no way to affect any realleverage of their own.

Currently, National Football League teams owners and their managementoffices are so powerless with their players that they are hoping thatthe league's central organizing office under the NFL commissioner willfine the players to deter continued taunting with gestures of extremeviolence, such as making a throat cutting gesture towards opposingplayers and opposing fans after a big play, as was reported in manynewspapers on Nov. 23, 1999.

Similarly, team owners do not feel the leverage of individual fans intheir big decisions. Cities are driven to making unwise financialdecisions that give financial incentives to teams to dump their old cityand move to theirs. Cities are often so desperate to get a team in theirarea that some teams sneak out in the middle of the night and leave fora different city. The city that was unceremoniously dumped may be stuckwith the bill for a new stadium that it financed with the hope ofencouraging the team not to leave their city. Many owners simply cannotafford the high salaries needed to compete successfully in some leagues,and the owners often do not have any hope of having leverage with aplayer over the life of the player's contract to induce the player toperform in a professional manner.

This invention is directed to a solution to allow the fan's input helpsolve the current problems with professional sports and thereby changethe imbalance in leverage in the negotiations between the player and theteam and between the city and the team.

With the use of this invention, players could make the same amounts ofmoney, but it would be less likely that they would be able to just signbig guaranteed contracts with big signing bonuses and then never have toperform.

The invention seeks to overcome difficulties in the management andperformance of entities which have previously operated without thenormal controls and checks and balances that are required for theprofessional organization of a business with accountability.

The invention seeks to bring a greater degree of control andresponsiveness between customers of an organization and the organizationand members of the organization, by the members' employees, directors,shareholders or other supporters.

The invention is directed to the employment of a computer network forfacilitating increased responsibility between two entities, essentiallycustomers or consumers on the one hand, and the corporate or businessentity on the other hand.

SUMMARY

This invention involves the use of an apparatus, the interne, along withdata files interacting according to the method and system of thisinvention.

A software program and a logic architecture enables people from anylocation in the world with access to the Internet or other computercommunication network to receive and transmit information from adatabase on which to determine their decisions in relation to a companysuch as a sports entertainment company that owns a professional sportsteam. The decisions that can be made by the remote consumer/sports fanor shareholder include, among others: decisions on the compensatorybonuses, salaries and other awards to professionalathletes/coaches/executives in direct response to their actualperformance, or lack thereof, during an ongoing event and available forthe participating members to decide by vote in real time or near realtime; decisions to purchase or sell shares of a publicly traded companywhich owns, for example, a sports team where the shareholder or, inappropriate situations, the fan has an ability—through the use of theinvention to actively participate by voting in management decisions,board of director decisions and owner decisions; decisions on the pointsawarded to the contestants for each round of boxing match and takinginto account the effectiveness of a punch as measured by a boxing glovesensor among others that allows the remote voter to consider dataregarding the measure of the impact, or lack thereof, for each of theboxers' most significant punches.

Additionally, in relation to management, ownership and control and playof an entity, for instance in sports management, the system permits fanand/or shareholder interaction in relation to management, personnel,player or employee hiring and firing decisions. Additionally, there isthe ability to have input on the compensation of players, coaches ormanagement, a bonus for a specific play or for a specific quarter'sperformance or total salary. Moreover, in a sports entertainmentcompany, a fan can have input on the key players' roles such as whetheror not to be on the first team; and, more specifically, individual playcalling with real time remote input from shareholders or fans.

This can be effected in substantially real time or near real time,namely a participant can receive information by a communication link,for instance, watching a sports event on TV, and then respond byinputting information, a decision or data through a computercommunication network. This allows the remote participant, fan, memberor shareholder to interact with the players, actors, coaches, directors,and others to such a degree, so instantaneously during a live event thatthey actually cause drastic changes in the ongoing performance. Thus theparticipant is intimately involved to the point of potentially becomingengrossed in their own important role in the performance.

Additionally, fans seeking entertainment, or shareholders looking totake a more active role in the decision making of their team, at anytime of day or night can participate as a voter over the Internet inshareholder decisions, management decisions and coaching decisions madeavailable to them through a database. This database is managed by theInternet Participant Interaction Entertainment (IPIE) described here andas approved by the shareholders through a shareholder vote also usingthe IPIE.

Specifically, a fan is able to watch a professional sports game eitheron television or possibly on the IPIE. The fan or participant is able tovote through the use of the IPIE at the end of each play or each quarteron the internet on how to compensate the players, coaches, or managementand staff for their performance in that period.

The funds for compensation may be raised by advertising proceeds fromthe IPIE sale of advertising space, proceeds raised from fans' ticketsfor the right to participate in the IPIE, proceeds raised from the IPIEor proceeds raised from the team's shareholders allocated monies fromreserves to be used in conjunction with the IPIE to compensate playerseither with or without an additional base salary separately paid.

Additionally, according to rules established by the shareholders, somecoaching decisions can be made just before and during a game by the fansor alternatively by the shareholders by vote over the Internet using theIPIE. The fans could also suggest ideas for changes.

This creates a new and unique entertainment capability for the fan. Whenthe board of directors of the team votes in favor of allowing the fanswho are pre-qualified to participate under controlled circumstances orthe board of directors of a team reaches the point of indifference as towhich way a decision should go, then the fan can partake in voting onthe outcome of a management and coaching decision—including suchdecisions as compensation and who should be the starting players. The soauthorized decision-making voters (whether just the shareholders,pre-qualified fans or all fans depending on the Board of Directorsdecision) would have access to all the data that the coach or generalmanager would advise is pertinent in making that particular decision.

The invention is particularly concerned with sports management orentertainment business management by a remote party. Data between acentral database processing resource and at least one remote party iscommunicated after receiving an access request message from the remoteparty via a communications link. An access enabling message istransmitted to the remote party via the communications link wherein theremote party is authorized to access the database. The access enablingmessage permits the remote party to access the database and accessdesignated data from the database.

The data in the database includes historical data relating to the playerrelated with the current data related to that player being accessed. Areport is compiled from the accessed database, the report including thecurrent data of a player together with the historical data related tothat player such as a comparative analysis with other players; andtransmitting the compiled report of the data of the player to the remoteparty.

Periodically the database is updated with at least one of the historicalor current data about the player. Further, there is included theanalysis of the data of the player, and the reporting to the remoteparty. The report is stored in the central database processing resource.

Access to the central database processing resource is controlled whereindata in the database is accessible to selected multiple remote parties,in encrypted form if necessary.

Historical data of players is combined with current data of playersthereby to permit an analysis predicting play scenarios andprobabilities of selected players.

Communicating between a remote party and the central database processingresource through a computer network includes providing credit cardinformation of the remote user prior to providing the data, and data istransferred to the remote user after charging a credit card for suchdata. Monies can be transferred electronically via a telecommunicationsline between respective financial entities related to the remote partyand to an operator of the central database. These monies would bepayments or subscription fees for participation in the event,corporation, sport team and for payment directly or indirectly ofbonuses or other compensation.

Management, particularly of sports by a remote party comprises viewing,using a computer, both current data for a player, and historical dataabout the player. Analysis, using a computer, of the historical data andthe current data related to the player based on predeterminedcharacteristics is effected. The data and analysis relates to acombination of the historical data of players, and data being to permitan analysis predicting probabilities and play of selected players.

The invention is also directed to corporate management by a remoteparticipant comprising of relating to a current database of a corporatesituation through data communication between a central databaseprocessing resource and at least one remote participant. The remoteparticipant accesses the database and accesses designated data from thedatabase. The data in the database includes selected data relating tothe employee with the current data related to the corporate situation. Areport is compiled from the accessed database, the report including thedata of the situation. This is then transmitted to the remoteparticipant.

The remote party can receive at least one expert opinion. The remoteparticipant transmits a response or vote through the IPIE to thequestion then being decided, or the remote participant can vote inrelation to the expert opinion(s) depending on the specificauthorization previously approved by vote of the Board of Directors orthe shareholders also through the use of the IPIE. A controller of thecentral database receives at least one expert opinion on an issue. Theexpert opinion is selectively made available to at least one remoteuser, such that the remote user can selectively make decisions based onthe opinion, and selectively transmit the decision to the centraldatabase.

In another aspect of the invention there is a hierarchy of remote users.There are, different levels in the hierarchy having a different weightfor their respective votes, opinions or decisions. The Board ofDirectors or the shareholders can approve the factors involved inascertaining the different weights of different voters opinions based onsuch thing as: the number of years one has lived in the community ofthat sports team, the number of years a fan has had season tickets, thefact that a vote may be placed by a fan through the IPIE while the fanis actually at the ongoing athletic contest, the fact that a particularfan has bought shares of the team, and other relevant factors. The votesor decisions can be transmitted to the central database and the outcomeof the vote with weighted analysis is accomplished through the IPIE.

Some of the remote users in the hierarchy are non-shareholders inrelationship to ownership of the database which is used, for example,for managing a corporation which can be a sports entity or otherentertainment business entity, for example a producer of live theatre.Others of the hierarchy are shareholders, and others are board membersfor the entity owning the database. In a corporate situation,selectively the ownership of one or more sports team(s), the staff, forinstance accountants, board of director levels, executive level,customer level, can be subjected to different authorities of power inthe corporation. In a real time sense decisions can be portrayed in avideo communication scenario, and the opinions can be transmittedappropriately through the computer network, such as the Internet.Customers or fans who are disgruntled could vote in mandatorypunishments for players who are found guilty of commit crimes or whoviolate other minimum behavioral requirements such as showing up to workon time. Fans could review the data on the players' vote as to whoshould be the head coach in making that hiring decision.

As such, a remote participant is enabled in real time or near real timeto interact with a core or central business, player, actor or event ofan enterprise as that business, player, actor or event is taking action.The remote participant obtains the information ideally from a video orTV connection or interface, and responds through a computer network,including the Internet to the enterprise, player, action or event.

Another aspect of the invention involves remote participants interactingin real time or near real time with a significant and important effector function with a live theatre or other entertainment or movieproduction company during the ongoing 20 processes of that entertainmentproduction. The participants could respond to ongoing live choices ofdifferent actors trying out for different roles in the show or movie bywatching in a remote location via a transmission to the participantstelevision monitor or the computer screen itself. The television signalcould be sent on a network such as the internet or on cable or othermethod. The participants or shareholders would be able to 25 perform theowner, manager, producer or director functions by remotely votingthrough the IPIE as to the specific selection, decision or choice of thefollowing in a live ongoing participant fashion: reading by an actor oractress, choosing between different scripts as viewed and read on theinternet through the IPIE, editing of the script during thetransformation from a treatment or mere story line or idea to a fullblown script, angle and closeness or lens for the camera shot, whichtake of a scene is best, choosing between different endings of thescript, total budget for the production, amounts to budget for each lineitem, amounts to spend in advertising, what markets to focus on forrelease, what day to release the film in different markets, andparticipate in technical ongoing live or near live expert debates on allthe above subjects potentially with paid famous expert opinions if theshareholders so approve by vote through the IPIE. Similar to the sportsembodiment described herein, different weight could potentially beapplied to different participants votes depending on such factors asexpertise in the area defined by certain shareholder defined criteria,number of shares in the company, amount of time or money spentinteracting with that production through the IPIE. Bonuses for excellentperformances could be allocated by the remote participants based on apool of money allotted by the shareholders for that purpose.

The invention is further described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall view of a web-based system to provide access to adatabase management system of a business database in relation to theInternet.

FIG. 2 is a graphical illustration of a computer network, namely theInternet.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system for practicingvarious aspects of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of a browser for the database management system foraccessing the business database of the invention.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are representations of an IPIE which shows basic flowdiagrams illustrating a CDPR with an exemplary process by which anoperator of a CDPR receives and transmits data relating to businessinformation, in particular a sports business.

FIGS. 6 a, 6 b and 6 c are representations of an IPIE which share a CDPRwith detailed flow diagrams of the system steps employed in embodimentsof the present invention wherein a remote user can relate to a decisionhierarchy for a particular business, namely for a sports enterprise.

FIG. 7 shows a CDPR with an ICIP with a corporate management system.

FIG. 8 is a representation of a hierarchical structure for a corporationor sports enterprise.

FIG. 9 is a representation of a stadium, such as a sports stadium, whichis wired so that communication can take place between persons in thestadium or arena with events taking place on a central stage or field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference toa few preferred embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. In the following description, numerous specific details areset forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the presentinvention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, thatthe present invention may be practiced without some or all of thesespecific details. In other instances, well known process steps have notbeen described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure thepresent invention.

Overall System

FIG. 1 is an overview of the web-based system to provide access to theinvented database management system. With this system multiple users,for instance, remote users 8, access the web site 4 using the Internet6. Each of the users 8 has a computer terminal with the appropriatesoftware for accessing Internet. The users 8 may be unknown to the webserver computers 10 and 12. Each user 8 is allowed to browse the website and explore how the system functions.

There are several aspects to maintain security of information maintainedin the database server 22 and a banking system 28. A firewall 20prevents any user 8 from accessing any of the components behind thefirewall 20. In this way the users 8 have access to the web servercomputers 10 and 12, but only have access to the database server 22through the firewall 20. The database server 22 maintains, among otherthings, various database fields with respect to each of the profiles ofsubject employees, shareholders, directors and other pertinentinformation of a subject and other related groups and/or competitors.The database 22 maintains the services with a designation associated todetermine what data can be browsed by the users 8. Each of the webserver computers 10 and 12 allow users 8 to view subject and groupcategories and actual services and data products which are availablefrom the database.

The web server computers 10 and 12 can be identical and can beduplicated as additional load or growth on the system occurs. The webserver computers 10 and 12 share the responsibility for servicing theusers of the site. This arrangement provides for expandability of thesystem by merely adding additional web server computers as necessary.

When the system requires payments for access, data, products orservices, the system preferably includes an appropriate computerterminal 24 for interfacing with independent financial institutionswhich are connected on-line via the serial connection 26 to thefinancial institution computers 28. This allows automatic real timeconfirmation of the access of data, services, and products.

Once a user requires access to a product or service, the user goesthrough an identification or registration process and the exchange offinancial information to allow for credit or debit card payment of theaccess, data or purchase. This is verified, confirmed and authorized bythe appropriate bank system institution 28. Confirmation of the access,purchase or deposit of data, or a service is made by a mail server 34which sends an E-mail to the user 8 confirming the purchase or deposit.The mail server 34 allows for mail to be received and sent out. Securityof the various databases is maintained. Alert messages are generatedwhen an unauthorized access is attempted. Verification messages,authorization messages and confirmation messages are generated asappropriate.

The database server 22 is also designed to interact with an inputcomputer 32 operated by a central database processing resource (CDPR). Afirewall 30 serves to prevent unauthorized access to the database server22 or to the input computer 32. The input computer 32 can input profiledata and other data to the database, after appropriate access and/orpasswords are entered into the system. Similarly, users 8 through theirown computers can use appropriate access codes and passwords to inputdata to the database 25 server 22. This is tightly controlled forsecurity reasons. The data may only be added to an independentsub-database of the data server 22, and only after scrutiny by the CDPRoperator of the database through input computer 32, will this data fromusers 8 be subsequently added to the main database server 22.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the Internet and its use in the system ofthe invention. The Internet 6 is a network of millions of interconnectedcomputers 40 including systems owned by Internet providers 42 andinformation systems 44 such as America Online™. Individual or corporateusers may establish connections to the Internet in several ways. A useron a home PC 46 may access data, purchase or access an account throughthe Internet provider 42. Using a modem 48, the PC user can dial up theInternet provider to connect to a high speed modem 50 which, in turn,provides a full service connection to the Internet. A user 52 may alsomake a somewhat limited connection to the Internet through a system 20that provides an Internet gateway connection 54 and 56 to its customers.The database 22 is also connected into the Internet 6 through anappropriate modem or high speed or direct interface 58. The database 22is operable and maintained by the CDPR operator computer 60. Users ofthe databases of the invention would access the Internet in anappropriately selected manner.

Also shown in FIG. 2 is the relationship of a user of the system. Theuser is shown watching on a TV a sports game, which can be communicatedon the TV either by cable or antenna satellite. The user would interactwith the computer terminal 40 through the Internet 6 and the IPIE. Inturn, the IPIE would interact through a controller to give input to thegame.

An additional situation shows the ICIP connected through the Internet 6,which 20 would be a business operational model of the system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system 100 forpracticing various aspects of the invention. The computer system 100includes a display screen or monitor 104, a printer 106, a disk drive108, a hard disk drive 110, a network interface 112, and a keyboard 114.The computer system 100 includes a microprocessor 116, a memory bus 118,random access memory (RAM) 129, read only memory (ROM) 122, a peripheralbus 124, and a keyboard controller 126. The computer system 100 can be apersonal computer, such as an Apple computer, e.g., an Apple Macintosh™,an IBM™ personal computer, or a compatible, a workstation computer, suchas a Sun Microsystems™ or Hewlett-Packard™ workstation, or some othertype of computer.

Microprocessor 116 is a general purpose digital processor which controlsthe operation of computer system 100. Microprocessor 116 can be a singlechip processor or can be implemented with multiple components. Usinginstructions receive from memory, the microprocessor 116 controls thereception and manipulation of input data and the output and display ofdata on output devices.

Memory bus 188 is used by the microprocessor 116 to access RAM 120 andROM 122. RAM 129 is used by microprocessor 116 as a general storage areaand as scratch pad memory, and can also be used to store input data andprocessed data. ROM 122 can be used to store instructions or programcode followed by microprocessor 116 as well as other data.

Peripheral bus 124 is used to access the input, output, and storagedevices used by computer system 10. These devices include the displayscreen 104, printer device 106, disk drive 108, hard disk drive 110, andnetwork interface 112. The keyboard controller 126 is used to receiveinput from the keyboard 114 and send decoded symbols for each pressedkey to microprocessor 116 over bus 128.

The display screen or monitor 104 is an output device that displaysimages of data provided by microprocessor 116 via peripheral bus 124 orprovided by other components in computer system 100. The printer device106 when operating as a printer provides an image on a sheet of paper ora similar surface. Other output devices such as a plotter, typesetter,etc. can be used in place of, or in addition to the printer device 106.

The disk drive 108 and hard disk drive 110 can be used to store varioustypes of data. The disk drive 108 facilitates transporting such data toother computer systems, and hard disk drive 110 permits fast access tolarge amounts of stored data.

Microprocessor 116 together with an operating system operate to executecomputer code and produce and use data. The computer code and data mayreside on RAM 120, ROM 122, or hard disk drive 120. The computer codeand data could also reside on a removable program medium and loaded orinstalled onto computer system 100 when needed. Removable programmediums include, for example, CD-ROM, PC-CARD, floppy disk and magnetictape.

The network interface circuit 112 is used to send and receive data overa network connected to other computer systems. An interface card orsimilar device and appropriate software implemented by microprocessor116 can be used to connect computer system 100 to an existing networkand transfer data according to standard protocols. As such, the computersystem is connectable through an interface device with the Internet 6.

Keyboard 114 is used by a user to input commands and other instructionsto computer system 100. Other types of user input devices can also beused in conjunction with the present invention. For example, pointingdevices such as a computer mouse, a track ball, a stylus, or a tabletcan be used to manipulate a pointer on a screen of a general-purposecomputer.

The present invention in relation to database management of data canalso be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readablemedium. The computer readable medium is any data storage device that canstore data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examplesof the computer readable medium include read-only memory, random-accessmemory, magnetic data storage devices such as diskettes, and opticaldata storage devices such as CD-ROMs. The computer readable medium canalso be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that thecomputer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Specific System

FIG. 4 illustrates a browser system for use with the database system ofthe invention. A browser goes through a number of preliminary screensand logic steps, and reaches a screen 60 entitled “Next Entry”. Thisscreen provides data details or 25 information generally indicated as62. Clicking on any of these categories allows the user to reviewdatabase details 64, data specific details as generally indicated by 66.In this way, the user can index through a number of screens to getinformation regarding the different databases of the system. Inaddition, clicking on any of the triggers 70, 72, 74 and 76 is possible.These correspond to HOW IT WORKS, SECURITY, EXTENDED DATA andPRE-REGISTRATION. Clicking on trigger 70 provides the user withinformation on how the process works, explains the system, and providesdetails on how the user can participate in the database and obtain dataor input data. Clicking on trigger 72 provides details regardingsecurity of the system and automatic payment. In some cases, productsand services are offered with extended data and clicking on trigger 74which can provide details of the extended data and explains that thismay only be available on certain services or products.

Trigger 76 allows a user to pre-register and obtain user ID number. ThisID number is combined with financial information retained in thedatabase in an encrypted form. The pre-registration trigger 76 followswith step 78 which is to gather personal information such as credit cardnumber and expiry date to allow for automatic payment. Step 80 is tovalidate a current existence in the database, if this occurs. With anegative answer, the user is directed into a registration processindicate as 82. A user ID is assigned and a password is entered. Thisinformation is maintained in a portion of the database 22. At 84 theuser is provided a screen identifying the user ID at screen 86. If theuser already exists, the registration process is rejected at 88 and theuser is advised of the information at the display 86. The screen at 86would also represent the information which is available in the database22.

Example Scenarios

1. Sports Management

The system of management of a sports entertainment business isillustrated in FIGS. 5 a, 5 b, 6 a, 6 b and 6 c. The shareholders of acompany that owns a professional football team can determine that thedecision should be made available to consumers and/or fans. Thedecisions can, for instance, be about which of two quarterbacks shouldbe on the starting team and play for a certain minimum amount of time inthe next game, should the directors, coach or management consider thisto be a close enough decision, then through the IPIE fans can be allowedfor free, or alternatively for a price such as one dollar, to vote todetermine the outcome. The fan or user can give input in real or nearlyreal time to the IPIE. The fan would, through the telecommunicationsystem, for instance, TV, radio or computer screen, obtain data on theplay or state of a game or players. By using an input to a computernetwork, for instance, through a keyboard, the user, namely a fan orother employee or participant can vote on further action to be taken inrelation to the event, players, game or competition. Near real time canbe between about 10 seconds to about 5 to 10 minutes.

The IPIE provides available player data and statistics for the fan aswell as data relating to the opinions of the quarterback coaches,offense coaches, and other well 10 known commentators, and opposingteams.

The commentators would be paid, by the company pursuant to a shareholdervote through the IPIE authorizing such expenditure. Their opinions canbe available on the IPIE for assistance of each individual fan'sdetermination of the vote of the fan through the IPIE. Alternately, thevoters would have to choose between one of the board of directorsapproved expert opinions. The voters' votes can have different weights.Shareholders can vote to have some people's votes be weighed more thanothers. For example, the largest shareholder's vote and/or the headcoach's vote may be given more weight than the fan who is not a seasonticket holder. Fans who have been season ticket holders for five yearsor more may have their votes weighed most heavily. The exactapportionment of different weight for different votes can be fine-tunedby the shareholders through the IPIE and can be made available to thepublic through the IPIE.

The fan with the computer network, for instance the internet, accesschooses to vote on the issues which are of interest or in which the votecounts heavily enough in the decision making process. Additionally, theIPIE can provide data relating to the statistical results of all thevotes of the players on the team on some decisions and make that dataavailable for the shareholder or fan to consider when the fan votes.Thus, the fans are empowered to make ongoing decisions by voting throughthe IPIE to make decisions as approved by the shareholders, such aschoosing between the available personnel as to who should be placed onthe starting team at the quarterback position in the next upcoming game.

Alternatively, the shareholders allow the coaches to decide amongcertain types of decisions which decisions are close enough to allow allfans to vote and make the individual decision. The logic architecture ofthe IPIE would adjust the program to enable that result.

Another alternative is that the coaches decide at certain times that adecision is to be made during the game by the fans or by theshareholders. The logic software architecture of the IPIE adjusts theprogram to enable that result. At certain points in the game theshareholders can actually be allowed to make play calls through use ofsecret voting on the IPIE. The result is communicated secretly by theIPIE to the quarterback in the huddle on the field just before the play.

After the each football play, for example, the statistics on thepercentage of votes for different plays from the playbook can be madeavailable for viewing by the fans through the use of the IPIE. This is asignificant addition to entertainment value to the shareholder and ispossible by use of the IPIE in conjunction with the system, method andapparatus of the invention employing the computer network, namely theinternet. The IPIE provides an entertainment facility with a surprisingresult that the fans become more intimately involved in the ongoingdecision making during a professional or amateur sports game.

The IPIE creates a new balance in the economics of the rewards for thefan. Upon the sale of a team in a relatively new league, for instance,women's basketball, the IPIE involved fan who became a shareholder of ateam in that league is able to cash in on what that fan has helpedcreate through the use of the IPIE in managing and owning the team.

This system functions as the catalyst which sets free large populationsof individuals with their newfound financing capabilities combined withmore efficient consumer feedback. This causes sports businesses that usethe IPIE to be run in a more professional manner as the fans have a moredirect and immediate impact on the performance and overallprofessionalism of the contestants/employees. This combination can alsoenable a new league to blossom and thrive.

2. Corporate Management

This system, method and apparatus of the invention also operates with asimilar program to run other types of companies, for instance anInternet Corporate Interactive Program (ICIP). The illustration of FIGS.5 a, 5 b, 6 a, 6 b and 6 c would be appropriate for corporate managementin a similar sense. FIG. 7 provides an overall concept of corporatemanagement.

Specifically, any company's shareholder or management decisions areperformed with the use of the internet, the invented apparatus, systemand method, by a vote through the use of the ICIP. This can be effectedin real or near real time as needed. This combination of the computernetwork, for instance, the internet, the intranet or an extranet and theICIP gives the investor an ability to participate in the company forinvestment. This encourages further investment which would benefit thecompany. Data in the form of statistics and other information can bemade available through the ICIP interacting data files. This allowsshareholders to perform many tasks: closely monitor the profitability ofdifferent departments of a publicly traded company; read data on thehours worked of each employee, years of service at the company, resume,and other information relative to the value of the employee.

Shareholders can monitor certain employees through audio/video camerasavailable for display on the shareholders' computer through the ICIP ifthe shareholder chooses to view that data. The shareholders can vote tohave the company provide a new set or type of data for their perusal onthe ICIP. This and other available data can be made available throughthe ICIP to allow shareholders to vote on bonuses to be given toemployees from a pool of funds allocated by shareholders for thatpurpose.

Additionally shareholders can vote through the use of the ICIP to offerto sell a subsidiary if a certain minimum price is attained. This can beaccording to shareholder rules specifically and previously approved byvote. The ICIP provides data including the written opinions of therelevant division heads of the company as well as the opinions of marketexperts useful in making all such decisions. Different market expert'sopinions may be purchased by the shareholders by through the use of ICIPvoting to purchase that opinion on that issue. This provides theshareholder with a significant new way to feel a part of the company andwould encourage people to become better informed as shareholders inmonitoring their investments more closely and more accurately.

According to precise rules of the company and implemented by the ICIP, acertain minimum plurality of vote by the shareholders could then causecertain issues to be voted at the following stockholders annual meeting.The shareholders use the ICIP at the shareholders annual meeting toreview pertinent data and vote the issues.

EXAMPLE

Preface

In more ancient times, the ritual of sport was very different than whatwe are used to today. The fans would decide the outcomes of games withtheir verbal responses or rather than just the team owners and thecontestants. It was the involvement of the fans that made the sportexhilarating for everyone involved.

Today, the owners and players fight over money and benefits while theaction of game suffers through these disputes. Fans are powerless, leftto sit and watch as owners get greedy and players “hold-out” for moremoney. Then, as the ultimate slap-in-the face, owners demand that thefans, with their public money, reward the owners with new stadiums andsports arenas. The fun and excitement of sport dwindles into the abyssof business reality. The fan is merely a spectator and is often anuninvolved and disgruntled customer as the political and economic gamesare played beyond their purview.

The invented system described here, along with its method and apparatusreinstitutes the fan as part of the game itself. The system creates atriad relationship between the owners, the players and the fans.

With this invention the fans are able to influence the process of thesporting game and then become an involved and satisfied customer. Thecurrent sporting business system misses the advantages provided by thisinvention and neglects the fan.

With this invented system, fans are able to “micro-manage” a team in aprofessional league through a “management console.” This console allowssalary and bonus compensation manipulations of the team's activities bythe fans themselves. The team is beholden to the fans as the datacompiled by the fans input is averaged. These averages dictate a fanconsensus of what the players are actually going to be paid.

Exemplary Scenario 1

Via this invention and the Internet and/or computer network, fans accessthe sports database. Each participating fan submits $1 per game to areward fund dedicated for a particular game. Fans manage the team'soverall game budget through the software Management Console. The game'smost valuable player(s) is a mean obtained by calculating statisticalsalary and bonus conclusions, through fan votes of reward for merit ofplayers. Individual achievement rewards are also awarded. In any case,the players get paid based on fan appreciation of actual ongoing play.This reward serves as an incentive for players to always play at anoptimum level. This mutually beneficial incentive program providesexcitement for the fans as well as another incentive for the players.

A Program

The Internet or workstation based software system that drives theoperation consists of relational database tables and the graphicalsoftware management console.

The relational/linked database:

1. Player Data→Player ID.

-   -   Team Data→Team ID.    -   League Data→League ID.

2a. Player to Team=Player_ID; Team_ID.

2b. Team to League=Team_ID;League_ID

3. Players Inherit←Team attributes|Teams Inherit←League Attributes

Tables are utilized to distribute data in substantially identical formator related format as software classes. Different relational databasesand algorithms are used to establish probabilities and outcomes andconsequences. These can be based on statistical data models andtechniques in relations to the player, players, and competitors.Controls are built-in to prevent sabotaging of the system by non-genuineparticipation. Input to participants can be received via differentcommunication media including television, radio, telephone, email,regular mail, fax or the like. Voting or participation from the outsideparticipant or remote user is via a communication network, preferablyincluding the Internet.

As new members or remote users join, they can create a personal profilethat is used to track management habits. The member has some controlover a quasi-management decisions as to how team salaries and bonusesare spent. Members can choose leagues and teams to manage. The membersinput can be averaged to create a consensus that is used to compensatethe players. Results of the consensus are stored and then utilized forrewards.

The management console provides a system and method of sports and teammanagement. Utilizing computer systems, a team's decision making ismanaged from the desktop.

Although the description has focused to a large extent on sportsoperations, it is clear that many other systems are operable with theinvention to facilitate greater responsiveness and control betweencustomers and/or consumers and/or shareholders on one side and theactual operators, employees, performers, directors and managers on theother side. Many corporate operational actions and activities can be thesubject of the present invention.

Many other possibilities of uses of the invention exist, each differingfrom others in matters of detail only. For instance, in sports action itis possible to provide direct signaling devices and/or sensors on thebody or in the clothes or gear of a player. These sensors can havetransceiver capabilities. Success, for instance, by a boxer, actuallylanding punches on an opponent can be signaled to the IPIE, and in turnto users of the IPIE. This permits once again for real time or almostreal time, interaction between the player and the fans, who can react inalmost real time to the events in the arena.

In FIG. 8 there is discloses a hierarchical situation for a sports teamcompany between the different elements that form part of thehierarchical. At one level there is the team or corporation, the nextlevel is the manager. The manager would be responsible to an executivestaff, which in turn would be responsible to a board of directors, whichin turn is responsible to the owners or shareholders. A different levelof the hierarchy are the customers or fans, and through the system ofthe invention, these customers and fans can give input to any one ormore of the board of directors, executive staff or manager in a realtime or near real time environment. Because the system opens themanagement of a sports enterprise or corporation to customers or fans ina more direct way than is normally possible, appropriate screening,encryption and values are placed in position to ensure that voting aninput from customers, shareholders or fans is properly evaluatedincluding possible weighted analysis of votes depending on shareholderapproved ascertainable operational evaluations of fan participation andloyalty such as: fan time investment in watching the games on televisionor live and/or with the use of the IPIE, fan monetary investment in theteam through ownership of shares or season tickets. For instance, therecan be a situation where a customer is intent on directly or indirectlysabotaging a corporation or sports team. Techniques are provided toensure that that input is effectively screened. In a sports environmenta fan, who, for instance, has been a long term season ticket holder canbe given more weight in a decision than a more recent fan. Likewise, ina corporation structure, customers can be evaluated in the same way. Inother words, customers which may be long term, high value clients andwho have in the past spent considerable monies with the corporation canbe given greater weight than smaller time, off the street type ofcustomers.

In a further sense of the device as used in a sports team environment,one or more sensors can be used who are participants in a sports team.For instance, in a boxing environment, a sensor can be provided on thebody and/or hand and/or article of clothing or glove of a boxer so thatdifferent data can be obtained. For instance, when a punch is actuallylanded as opposed to glancing off an opponent, this as well as thestrength of impact would be effectively measured. This would allow thefans at any location, through the use of this invention, to have abetter feel of whether or not a boxing match's outcome was predeterminedor fixed while they obtain a more accurate presentation of the weight ofeach punch. For boxing matches or ice skating competition that end uprequiring a decision by the judges as to the victor, this invention asdescribed above can be a valuable tool in assisting in such a judgement.Similarly, in other contact sports, different sensors can be provided onthe sports players. A suitable receiver/transmitter is built into thesensors to relay the information to the IPIE module directly orindirectly through a manager or the like.

In a different situation, an IPIE can be used for instance, inprofessional drafts of college players. At a time for drafting one ormore players to a team, customers and fans may be able to give moredirect input to the IPIE with regard to particular players to bedrafted. The system can be used for sports teams or sports individualsalone.

In some cases, the near real time can be extended to be about one hour.The concept of the near real time is to obtain as prompt a response aspossible. Also, although the telecommunication input is indicated to bea television source which is different to the computer terminal forresponding, the situation can be contained in a single monitor device,for instance the Web TV (Trademark) system.

The system operates, for events other than sport or corporate activity,for instance, for other live events or performances such as live theaterperformances and/or concerts. The remote participant can respond to thatlive event. In certain situations, rehearsals of the event can bebroadcast in an open circuit or closed circuit sense to remoteparticipants who then respond in the real time or near real time frame.

As used in this application, the term “event” includes a sports event,sports competition, sports contest, live theater or concert event, or acorporate or business happening. An “actor”, “player”, or “participant”means any one or more persons involved in the core or central happeningof the event.

Different exemplary applications of the invention are further discussed:

Example 1

As shown in FIG. 9, sports stadiums, complexes, arenas or theaters 90are hard-10 wired for Internet or other network (LAN) capability for usewith SFR live, real time, interactive, etc. With respect to a virtualprivate network, each seat 92 has a computer, or access to a computervoting apparatus, monitor and keyboard for interacting in chat rooms oron more complicated sports management system interaction decision makingor voting or information gathering systems through the use of theinvention. The access can include power supplies and/or modems or othercommunication links. The communicator 94 is through the Internet 6. Itcan be to managers 96 and/or players 98. The managers 96 and/or players98 has an appropriate receiver associated with them. There can be accessto statistics on past performance of players or teams. Internetconnections at each seat includes a telephone, cable modem, DSL, T1,etc.

Example 2

Wireless access to the invention via Internet access at sports stadiumsat individual seats or at other types of mass entertainment complexesfor use with the sports management system live, real time, interactive,etc. allows portability and thus ease of use is facilitated ininteracting with the entertainment enterprise during the live, real timeevent.

Example 3

This example is the same as #1 & #2 above except it pertains to othermass entertainment facilities. At concert facilities, fans at thestadium vote during the concert to choose the next song for the band toplay. At movie theaters, the movie-goer chooses between differentendings to a movie or chooses different “takes” that were filmed of thesame scene.

At a playhouse the audience members vote during casting calls on whichactor should be hired for a certain role in a play to be produced.

Example 4

A wireless remote gadget allows the fan at any of the above types ofperformances to vote from any location inside or outside the facility.Each wireless device has a unique security identification number toidentify the data sent as being sent from a specific authorized user/fanso that each fan that has properly purchased the right to participatehas only one vote. The wireless device has many different designs formore complexity or less complexity. One of the less complex designsallows the fan to have only two choices. This two-choice device is idealfor allowing dozens of consecutive votes during a performance. The fanhas perhaps two minutes to vote on who will be the starting quarterback.The fan is alerted to the quarterback selection vote by the videotronhanging in the stadium, or the question is e-mailed to the fans andappears on monitors at each seat or monitors that are a part of theWireless remote gadget.

Example 5

In another variation, the fan is given two minutes to vote on the issueof whether their team should kick or receive the opening kick off ifthey win the coin toss. Subsequently, the fan is given two minutes tovote on who should make all the play calls for the first quarter of playbetween two experts choosing from the coaches selection of favoriteplays. The wireless device for two choices are thus very small andinexpensive to make.

Example 6

This is similar to Example 4 above, but here the wireless device hasmore than 5 two buttons for more than two choices.

These applications apply to the types of entertainment performancesother than those listed above. The fans also vote during the writing andediting process of books, plays, movies, poems, musicals, etc.

Example 7

In sports, the general concept is that the decisions of the owner,coach, manager are made through the sports management system by the fan.Similarly, there are parallel concepts for other mass entertainmententerprises at every decision making point in the creative andproduction process.

With respect to movies, decisions regarding the investor/movieproduction company/producer, director, writer, set designer,photographer, casting director, etc. throughout the creative andproduction process are made by the movie-goer/fan. The same issues applyto plays. For music albums, decisions typically made by the recordinglabel, musician, songwriter, lyricist, are reviewed and voted on by thefans throughout the entire creative and production process.

For novels or books of poems or short stories, decisions typically madeby the publishing house, writer, and editor are voted on by thereaders/fans via the system throughout the entire creative andproduction process. For symphonies, operas and musicals, the decisionstypically made by the composer, conductor, investor/owner, director,etc., are made audience members/fans voting throughout the entirecreative and production process.

Example 8

For all types of mass entertainment, the fan is given the opportunity tomake a financial investment throughout the entire creative andproduction process of an entertainment project. The advantages are: avery high level of knowledge of the details regarding timeliness ofprogress; intimate information on the quality of the project; intimateaccess to the content of the project which allows fans to formulatetheir own projections as to profitability; and availability ofindependent expert opinions for use of the fan in voting on specificmodifications to the project and affords the fan a better knowledge basefor making an investment decision.

Financing is both won and lost throughout the entire creative andproduction 10 process. This creates a viable possibility that manyartistic and athletic projects that have never had an opportunity toreceive funding that is actually produced.

An athletic or artistic project (Project) thus has some of the abilitiesto attain financing similar to a corporation. The Project effectivelysells stock via the numbered system. A stock holder has a market that iscreated and managed by and through the numbered system. The creator hasthe potential of raising capital through the invention. When the projectcatches the attention of investors, the stock value goes up which allowsthe creator to sell additional stock at a higher price than the originalprice. If the investment is kept below the SEC limitations on the numberof investors or if the SEC rules are followed by the creator, the numberof total investors allowed is effected. The creator receives feedbacknot only from fan votes but also on investors interest or disinterest ininvesting and the concomitant value of the stock.

Example 9

Poetry authors submit their best poems on a certain subject like “love”to be voted on for inclusion into a book of poems from various authorsthrough the use of the invented system. Through the use of the system,many books of poetry on many different subjects are with the best poemsfrom various authors/poets. The annual best of all the different wholepoetry books created are decided on by a vote.

This best poetry book is marketed with an advertising budget from theinvestors who were afforded the opportunity of investing in the project.The best book of poems are sold and downloaded to purchasers who alsohave proprietary software to enable the purchaser to obtain one copy ofthe poetry book the customer purchased. The software does not enable thepurchaser to send an e-mail copy of the poetry book to anyone else. Theproprietary software also does not enable printing.

Prospective customers view a list of books available for purchase thatwere voted by a certain number of votes as the year's best. Every fiveyears the best individual “love” poems are voted on from any poem thathad been selected to be put in any individual best of an individualyear's poems. In that way there is a new book—best “love” poems for thefive year period. Monetary prizes or royalties are paid to the author ofeach individual poem as it appears in each individual copy of a bookthat is sold. Successful books are printed in hardback versions and soldthrough normal distribution chains.

The investors who paid for advertising have a share of the profits aswell as the many authors/poets. The percentage of profits paid to theinvestors is decided by vote at the time that the each round offinancing is raised by the authors and any previous investors. A groupof owners of a book of poems vote in favor of offering for sale for atwo month period shares of ownership in the venture that owns this bookof “love” poems. The investment prospectus includes the requisite SECfilings as needed and facilitated. The investment prospectus includes adetailed budget delineating the ways that the money raised is spent topromote sales of the poetry book.

The budget in the prospectus is voted on for approval by the thencurrent owners of the poetry book. Owners have a security personalidentification number allowing them to vote on owner decisions. Thegeneral public has opportunities to vote on issues that are notownership issues. The public suggests and votes on suggested changes toa poem to improve the poem. If the original poet/author disagrees withthe changes, then with enough votes of the then current ownership groupthe poem could still be changed to the majority voted new version,assuming the original rules of the owners of the poem had included theoriginal poet's transferring his copyright to the ownership group.

In this way, the poem can have an ever-changing life of its own overtime. Potentially, different versions of the same poem might be more orless attractive in various cultures or various parts of a countrydepending on the market influences of a particular region. As a result,the ownership group votes to market different versions of the generallysame book of poems in different regions of the world.

Different versions of “love” poems, different cover designs, differentmarketing colors and different logos are voted on by the public todetermine the best marketing of that book of “love” poems for differentage groups and different sex purchasers. A purchaser who asks for the“best book of love poems” that is targeted for a seventy-five year oldwoman in Alaska may well be significantly different from the “best bookof love poems” marketed for a teenage woman from Hawaii.

Many and diverse cultures of the world would have an opportunity fortheir artistic expression to thrive in the marketplace and give theentire world the opportunity to appreciate each one. The same processcould be applied to music, novels, movies, plays, musicals, etc.

Example 10

As illustrated in FIG. 9, there is also a connection with a participant,player or performer on the stage, field or arena. This is a wirelessconnection with that participant. A spectator can thereby communicatedirectly with such an individual or group of individuals. Thiscommunication is essentially a wireless communication. An appropriatereceiver is carried by the actor, participant or player. In situationswhere contact sports are involved, this sensor and/or receiver isappropriately shock-absorbable, for instance, can be located in a helmetof a player.

The invention is to be determined solely by the following claims.

1. A method of participation by a remote party in the conduct of anentertainment event, the entertainment event having a manager, aplurality of participants, and a computer system that includes adatabase containing data relating to the entertainment event and theperformers or participants, the method comprising the steps of: theremote party remotely viewing and analyzing the performer or participantin the entertainment event based on one or more characteristics;transmitting data regarding a decision or event in connection with theentertainment event to the remote party; receiving at the computersystem a decision via a communications link from a remote computingdevice associated with the remote party, the decision relating to atleast one of: reading by an actor or actress, choosing between differentscripts as viewed and read on the internet, editing of a script during atransformation from a treatment or mere story line or idea to a fullblown script, angle of a lens for a camera shot, and closeness of a lensfor a camera shot, which take of a scene is best, choosing betweendifferent endings of a script, total budget for a production, amounts tobudget for each of a plurality of line items, amounts to spend inadvertising, what markets to focus on for release, and what day torelease a film in different markets; affecting the conduct of theentertainment event in accordance with said decision received at saidcomputer system.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote partytransmits the decision to the computer system via a network, thedecision being in substantially real or near real time in relation tothe data regarding the decision received by the remote party.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the remote party transmits the decision to thecomputer system via a wireless communications network, the decisionbeing in substantially real or near real time in relation to the dataregarding the decision received by the remote party.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein the remote party transmits the decision to the computersystem via messaging over the wireless network.
 5. The method of claim 3wherein the remote party transmits the decision to the computer systemvia a pager over the wireless communications network.
 6. The method ofclaim 3 wherein the remote party transmits the decision to the computersystem via an email communication sent via a personal digital assistantover the wireless communications network.
 7. The method of claim 1wherein the remote party transmits the decision to the database via acomputer network, the decision being in substantially real or near realtime in relation to the data regarding the decision received by theremote party.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the remote partytransmits the decision to the database via email transmitted via thecomputer network.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote partyviewing step is conducted using a television monitor/receiver.
 10. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the remote party viewing step is conductedusing a computer.
 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the remote partyviewing step is conducted using a combination of a televisionmonitor/receiver and a computer.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein theremote party viewing step is conducted using a combination of a computerand a wireless communications device.
 13. The method of claim 1 whereinthe entertainment event is a television show.
 14. The method of claim 1wherein the entertainment event is a contest or a game.
 15. The methodof claim 1 wherein the entertainment event is a movie.
 16. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the entertainment event is a concert.
 17. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the entertainment event is a live theater production.17. The method of claim 1 wherein the entertainment event is a sportingevent.
 18. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of theremote party transmitting from the remote computing device via thecommunications link to the computer system a request for purchase ofmerchandise relating to the entertainment event.
 19. The method of claim18 wherein the merchandise relating to the entertainment event is a datarecording or an at-home game version of the entertainment event.
 20. Amethod of substantially real time participation by a remote party invoting upon an artistic work, the artistic work having a creator, amanager and a computer system having a database containing data relatingto the artistic work and the creator, the method comprising the stepsof: the remote party viewing data for the creator via a display; theremote party analyzing data related to the creator based on one or morecharacteristics; transmitting data regarding a decision or event inconnection with the artistic work to the remote party; and receivingfrom the remote party a response via the communications link to thecomputer system, the remote party transmitting a decision from a remotecomputing device via the communications link to the computer system, thedecision being at least one relating to a status of the creator, afinancial reward to the creator, a penalty to the creator, a choice ofone of a plurality of responses to a query from the manager, reading byan actor or actress, choosing between different scripts as viewed andread on the internet, editing of a script during a transformation from atreatment or mere story line or idea to a full blown script, angle of alens for a camera shot, and closeness of a lens for a camera shot, whichtake of a scene is best, choosing between different endings of a script,total budget for a production, amounts to budget for each of a pluralityof line items, amounts to spend in advertising, what markets to focus onfor release, or what day to release a film in different markets.
 21. Themethod of claim 20 wherein the artistic work is one of a novel, a shortstory, a poem, a musical composition, a song, a painting or a sculpture.22. A method of substantially real time participation by a remote partyin voting upon an artistic work, the artistic work having a creator, amanager and a computer system having a database containing data relatingto the artistic work and the creator, the method comprising the stepsof: the remote party viewing data for the creator via a display; theremote party analyzing data related to the creator based on one or morecharacteristics; the remote party transmitting a decision from a remoteterminal via a communications link to the database, the decision beingat least one relating to a status of the creator, a financial reward tothe creator, a penalty to the creator, a choice of one of a plurality ofresponses to a query from the manager, reading by an actor or actress,choosing between different scripts as viewed and read on the internet,editing of a script during a transformation from a treatment or merestory line or idea to a full blown script, angle of a lens for a camerashot, and closeness of a lens for a camera shot, which take of a sceneis best, choosing between different endings of a script, total budgetfor a production, amounts to budget for each of a plurality of lineitems, amounts to spend in advertising, what markets to focus on forrelease, or what day to release a film in different markets; and usingthe decision transmitted from the remote terminal to affect at least oneof: said status of the creator, said financial reward to the creator,said penalty to the creator, said choice of one of a plurality ofresponses to a query from the manager, said reading by an actor oractress, the selection between different scripts as viewed and read onthe internet, said editing of a script during a transformation from atreatment or mere story line or idea to a full blown script, said angleof a lens for a camera shot, and closeness of a lens for a camera shot,which take of a scene to use, the choice between different endings of ascript, said total budget for a production, said amounts to budget foreach of a plurality of line items, said amounts to spend in advertising,said markets to focus on for release, or the day to release a film indifferent markets.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising thesteps of verifying that the remote party's access to the database isauthorized, and permitting the remote party to respond to the query viathe communications link to the database.
 24. The method of claim 22wherein the artistic work is one of a novel, a short story, a poem, amusical composition, a song, a painting, a movie or a sculpture.
 25. Amethod of sports management by a remote party of an entity owning atleast one sports player and having a computer system with a database forthe sports management comprising: providing a database having datadescribing performance of a player; communicating the data describingperformance of the player between a central database processing resourceand at least one remote party; receiving an access request message fromthe remote party via a communications link; electronically authorizingthe remote party to access the database of the computer system, therebypermitting the remote party to access designated data from the database;compiling a report from the accessed database, the report including theperformance data of the player; and transmitting the compiled report ofthe data of the player to the remote party; the computer providing theremote user with the ability in real time or near real time to submit adecision to a central database, the decision being used to effect thestatus of said at least one sports player.
 26. The method of claim 25,comprising the steps of verifying that the access to the database isauthorized.
 27. The method of claim 25, including periodically updatingthe database with at least one of historical or current data about theplayer.
 28. The method of claim 25, including analyzing the data of theplayer, and providing the report to the remote party based on theanalysis of the data of the player.
 29. Apparatus for sports managementby a remote party of an entity owning at least one sports player andhaving a computer system with a database for the sports managementcomprising: a program to relate historical data of a player togetherwith current assessment data related to that player; a computercommunication network for data communication being between a centraldatabase processing resource reactive with the program and at least oneremote party; a computer system for receiving an access request messagefrom a remote party via the communications link, said computer systemtransmitting an access enabling message to the remote party via thecommunications link wherein the remote party is authorized to access thedatabase, the access enabling message permitting the remote party toaccess the database and access designated data from the database, thedata in the database including current data relating to the player andhistorical data related to the player being accessed; a computerconfigured to compile a report from the accessed database, the reportincluding the current and historical data; and the communication networkbeing for transmitting the compiled report of the assessment data of theplayer to the remote party; the computer communications networkproviding the remote party with the ability in real time or near realtime to submit a decision to a central database, the decision being usedto effect the status of said at least one sports player.
 30. Theapparatus of claim 29, comprising means for verifying that the access tothe database is authorized.
 31. The apparatus of claim 29, includingmeans for analyzing the current assessment data of a player and thehistorical data related to the player, and means for providing thereport to the remote party based on the analysis the assessment data ofthe player and the historical data.
 32. The apparatus of claim 29,comprising means for storing the report in the central databaseprocessing resource.
 33. The apparatus of claim 29, including means forcontrolling access to the central database processing resource toselected multiple remote parties.
 34. The apparatus of claim 29,including means for combining data of players, and means to permit ananalysis predicting probabilities of play of selected players.
 35. Theapparatus of claim 29, including means of communicating between a remoteparty and the central database processing resource through a computernetwork, means for providing credit card information of the remote partyprior to providing assessment data and/or historical data andtransferring such data to the remote party after charging a credit cardfor such data.
 36. The apparatus of claim 29, including the means forremote party transmitting a decision from a remote terminal to thedatabase through a computer network, the decision being at least onerelating to the status of a player, financial reward to a player,financial reward to a team related to the player, or financial reward inrelation to a sports competition with regard to a sports team.
 37. Theapparatus of claim 29 wherein the communication to the remote user isthrough a communication link, and wherein the remote party computernetwork, and being in substantially real or near real time in relationto the communication received by the remote user.
 38. The apparatus ofclaim 37 wherein the remote party receives information about a sportsevent through television and the remote party responds through thecomputer network to the database, and the database transmits a messageto the player or a team manager related to the player.